From Days Gone By July 7, 1911

July 7, 1911.
During the electrical storm that passed over Wrightsville early last tuesday night, lightening struck the cupalo of the methodist church. It was about 8 pm when a severe stroke of lightning partially shocked several citizens in the neighborhood of the church but it was not known what was hit until between 10 and 11 pm. Mr. Miller McAfee was passing the church and noticed a dim fire burning in the interior of the belfry. He gave the alarm which was quickly responded to by the two hose companies and promptly extinguished the fire.
Howerver, it took some heroic and daring work by several of the fire team who climbed the steeple from the inside and cutting away the burning timbers more or less damage was done to the pretty new carpet and chancel by water. There was no insurance on the church or its furnishings. Had it not been for the presence and willing efforts of our brave and ever-ready fire laddies the result would have been far more serious, in fact the church probably would have been destroyed.
Ordinary J. C. Wiggins has disposed of the old iron fence which enclosed the court house grounds, as it was useless since the hedge which he had planted has grown to be not only ornamental, but useful, and is now a substantial inclosure to the grounds. Judge J. E. Page had the iron fence placed around the court house when he was Ordinary, at a cost of $500, and it was sold for $125 and now encloses Oaky Grove Church cemetary.
The South Georgia Union Singing Association will hold its annual "Big Union Sing" at Idlywild saturday and sunday. Prof. J. E. Freeberg of Chattanooga, Tenn., a musician of recognized ability will be there to assist the teachers and their classes in the singing. There will be some 25 to 30 teachers present representing the same number of counties in the state. The W. & T. Railroad has arranged to carry the crowd at a low trip rate from towns along the line. Everybody and his pa will be there, "wives, sweethearts, aunts and cousins", and all are invited to bring "well-filled baskets" on both days.
Mr. J. E. Tompkins, accompanied by his wife left for Baltimore and New York to buy furniture for the Wrightsville Furniture Company, which he manages. When they arrived in Greensboro, N. C., Mrs. Tompkins was taken very ill. A physician was summoned and as soon as she is able they will return home. Mr. T will go back to the markets as soon as she is able to travel.
Col. and Mrs. Charles Claxton announce the birth of a son, born July 5th. Mrs. W. Dent is quite ill at her home in the city. Miss Bessie Martin has been sick with malarial fever. Mr. O. A. Kennedy had a severe attack of kidney colic.
Mrs. W. B. Adkins from Dublin was shopping at H. C. Tompkins store and laid her silver mesh purse on the counter. A black boy (Clint Patterson) who lives on the W. A. Walker farm, snatched the purse which contained a gold necklace, locket and cross, a valuable masonic ring belonging to her grandfather and some silver change. It was not long after he made his escape that Tompkins had him spotted and policeman Furguson and Osborne arrested and placed him in jail. After a search the articles were recovered and Clint will enjoy a vacation on the "gang".
Mr. J. Tom Flanders brought some Elberta peaches from his orchard to town measuring 10 inches in circumference.
"Whenever you're hot! Tired or thirsty, from work, brain tired, or body weary; parched, dry, or plain lazy, call and be refreashed with one of our many delightfully cooling and refreshing drinks! Which relieves fatigue of body, mind and nerves; Quenches the thirst; Vigorously satisfying. All the newest drinks dispensed at Wrightsville Drug Company."

From Days Gone By, June 30, 1911

June 30, 1911.
The handsome two-story brick building on Marcus Street is nearly completed. It is a decided ornament to Wrightsville. It is the property of E. A. W. Johnson and was built, and will be finished by Contractor W. C. Chester. The entire lower floor will be occupied by the Wrightsville Furniture Company, while the second story contains an auditorium and several nice offices. Just over the main entrance a marble slab bears the inscription "The Vivola", in large letters. This name was suggested by a lady some months ago, and is a combination of the names of Mr. Johnson's only daughters, Misses Vivian and Ola.
Ordinary Wiggins has installed a pump at the old artesian well in the court house yard, and the purest, and best of artesian water is now flowing free for all. Come and drink without money or price. Thanks to Judge Wiggins for the restoration of the old well.
W. T. Pournelle has moved his repair and blacksmith shop from near Cedar Creek into the city and is now located in business with his son, Lawson Pournelle near the W. & T. Railroad. Lawson has a well equiped garage, and is prepared to do all kinds of automobile and bicycle repairing, as well as various other mechanical work. He is a sober, industrious young man, and deserves the liberal patronage he receives. W. T. will continue to do blacksmith work and buggy and wagon repair at satisfactory prices.
Ben Shinholser, a black convict, who was serving a 5 year sentence in the Johnson County gang for killing another blackman about 4 years earlier on Mr. E. Smith's place near Kittrell, succeeded in making his escape from the gang several weeks ago. He was still at large until one day last week when he was located in Laurens County by Sheriff Flanders and his deputy, B. W. Raffield. Superintendent Kemp of the Johnson County gang was notified of his arrest and went to Dublin and brought his prisoner back, paying a reward of $35 for his recovery. Shinholser had a fraction over a year to serve at the time he made his escape and was a trusty.
Early monday morning a Gretna Green wedding took place in the city at the parlor of the Lovett Hotel. The parties of the elopement marriage were Miss Mattie Flanders, the adopted daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Flanders of Adrian, and Mr. J. W. Thompson of Scott. Judge J. C. Wiggins, Ordinary officiated.
Mrs. Julia Walker happened to a painful accident on wednesday night. As she was applying linement to her eye through a mistake, thinking it was the eye water she had been using for several days. In some way the bottles had been moved and she had not noticed this and applied the linement instead. Her eye is painfully injured and it is hoped will not permanently damage her sight.
Captain John L. Martin had a painful accident while driving a nail in a plank. The nail flew back and struck him in the eye, and he came near losing his sight.
Mr. Henry Montford is very ill with asthma. Miss Annie Rowland, sister of J. H. and W. D. was taken to Sandersville to be operated on for appendicitis at Rawlings Sanitarium. Mrs. J. M. Blackshear was also carried there for surgery.
W. C. Allen, former editor of the Wrightsville Chronicle, but now with the paper at Columbus, visited Wrightsville this week. Rev. Leland Moore was promoted to the pastorate of the Louisville methodist church. He was a pupil at Nannie Lou Warthen and a graduate of Emory College and took a special course at Vanderbilt. He is a grandson of Rev. Charles Moore of Wrightsville.
It was a big day at the new island resort of Tybee. It is estimated that nearly 5,000 people visited Tybee last sunday and is figured to be the largest crowd ever to be on the island. Every train carried extra coaches packed from the country and surrounding towns came hordes of excursionists.

From Days Gone By June 23, 1911

June 23,1911. While at work on the Johnson brick block, in the course of construction Mr. S. T. "Tinker" Downs sustained serious injuries. It appears that while Mr. Downs was working on the ground floor, a workman up above was sawing off a small section of 2 x 3 scantling when the piece of wood fell striking Downs on the crown of his head, rendering him immediately unconcious. He was rapidly carried across the street to Brinson's Drug Store where Dr. J. W. Brinson dressed his wound and made him as comfortable as possible. He was then carried to his home in the eastern part of town where it was nightfall before he came too. He is now resting easy and it was hoped that no permanent damage was inflicted. Tinker was considered a good, honest, hardworking man. Mr. & Mrs. D. G. Blount entertained at Rose Lawn the guests of the Folsom-Anthony wedding. Then later, the bridal party was entertained by Mr. Richard P. Hicks at Sutherland, his country home near Idylwild. Ten couples enjoyed the hospitality of their host, who spared no effort to pleasure the guests. Sutherland, whose broad acres, and magnificant trees are an ideal setting, the quaint stone house which sits back from the road, to which a beautiful shaded drive-way leads. The examination for teachers license for Johnson County was held at the court house where 15 white teachers took examines. Beginning this evening the Wrightsville & Tennille Railroad will put on their Idylwild Special, with the following schedule: Leave Dublin at 6:30, leave Wrightsville at 7:30. The train will leave Idylwild on return trip at 10:30. Round trip from Wrightsville to Idylwild, adults 15 cents, children, 10 cents. The statement of condition was released from the Scott Banking Company which stood at $63,866.34. The Citizens Bank of Kite stood at $82,800.32. Lofton, the little son of Mr. & Mrs. A. S. Norris is very sick with measles. The other children are improving. Mrs. W. C. Brinson is improving from her serious illness. Mrs. Lewis Davis has been quite sick for somtime from a severe attack of shingles. Last Sunday at Maple Springs Rev. Everitt Preached the funeral of Mr. Ben Brantley. Penny, the year old daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ed Blankenship died from whooping cough. She was interred at the Anthony burying ground. The elder child is extremely ill with same but the hope is it will recover. Mrs. D. R. Underwood died at her home after an extended illness and was buried at Beulah by Rev. J. R. Kelly. She had been an invalid for sometime and her death was not unexpected. Joseph E. Brantley is planning to plant a bigger crop of cotton next year, because of the fine twin boys who came to his home a few days ago. Mr. W. H. Chivers place, situated about a mile and a half from town, just across Cedar Creek is a fine farm. Besides having promising crops of corn and cotton, he makes a specialty of raising fine hogs, of the Berkshire and Tamworth breed, and is very successful. He has 75 to 100 pigs which are beauties in a class to themselves. His herd is headed by Premier Duke III, one of the finest and most symmetrical Berkshire hogs in the state, or entire south. He is certainly handsome weighing over 500 pounds. Mr. Chivers says his fine swine will be ready for delivery the middle of July so place your orders at once, for it goes without saying that Chivers has the finest strain of purebred Berkshires to be found in the south. W. P. Bedingfield will pay you highest prices for crossties. J. L. Williams lost a black, butt-headed ox, scarred on right side and hip. He left home in febuary and he will pay a $10 reward for its recovery.

From Days Gone By June 16,1911

June 16, 1911. The old residence of E. A. W. Johnson now occupies the corner lot on College street and Myrtle Avenue, where it was moved last week by Mr. Huffman of Dublin. Contractor Chester has begun work on Mr. Johnson's handsome new home, which will be erected on the old site of Elm Street. In the Jackson Brother's advertisement of oats for sale, the number of pounds was far wrong as to the correct figures. Instead of 2,500 pounds, it should have been 25,000 pounds. However, the Jackson Brother's of Donovan have the oats in large quantities at $1.00 per one hundred pounds. The report of the condition of the First National Bank in Wrightsville stood at $157,856.86. The Exchange Bank of Wrightsville stood at $100,575.92. The Bank of Wrightsville stood at $152,268.00. E. A. Lovett has joined Wrightsville's automobile contingent, and recently purchased a splendid E. M. F. car. Mr. and Mrs. Lewie Webster of Sandersville were called here by the illness of their daughter, Mrs. J. F. Renfroe. Dr. C. E. Holmes of Millen died very suddenly. He was a son of Rev. T. J. Holmes of Tennille and a brother-in-law of our local dentist, Dr. Archer. Among those who went from Wrightsville to Dublin to hear Hon. William Jennings Bryan speak were: Mrs. Mabel Blount, Miss Alma Blackshear, Mestrs. J. M., W. L. and R. B. Bryan. Tom Davis, the genial and popular salesman at the Empire Store, is able to be up again after two weeks illness of malarial fever. Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Daley will occupy the Brantley cottage, on College street, during the next few months. Mr. Daley will shortly begin the erection of his home, on Elm Street. In one residence block in Wrightsville, there are eight citizens bearing the Euphonious first name of John. So some one has called that portion of Elm street, "Johnnie Street." Well, are all young (?) fine looking men, and a right clever bunch of "Johnnies." Little Pauline and Florine Hatcher are quite ill with measles. Villard, the youngest child of Mayor and Mrs. Blount is very ill with pneumonia. After several weeks illness, Mrs. Barney D. Kent died at her home in Dublin. She is survived by her husband and an infant, four weeks old. Mr. Kent once lived here, and is the grandson of Captain Thomas W. Kent of Wrightsville. In Scott news Mrs. M. C. Carter is very sick at present, but we hope for her recovery early. J. W. Thompson has accepted a job at Meeks, with his brother Charlie. They are progressing nicely on the brick stores here.